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Monday, July 2, 2012

Another bad bout of vertigo knocked me for a loop once again last week, so I didn’t get a chance to post current photos of the backyard. I sure hope this dizziness goes away soon; I don’t like taking naps because my head hurts and it’s no fun trying to keep my balance standing or sitting, much less walking!

Some of you may recall that a videographer for the local Housetrends Magazine spent a few hours filming our backyard last Monday. I was amazed at all the angles and shots the guy took over the course of 2½ hours! Gee, I’m so glad that the shoot was last week, since a wild and crazy storm came through on Friday, dropping hundreds of branches and leaves onto the landscaping! The yard will receive a good clean-up on Wednesday. It is one hot mess! And speaking of “hot,” I certainly hope that our weather will be more tolerable than it’s been the past few days. I don’t like weather in the 100° range! Here are some “before” photos of our backyard, taken eight months ago. It’s amazing what our landscape contractor, The Site Group, did to transform the yard. It went from a completely un-useable space to one that has multiple areas where we can entertain guests and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the stream and waterfall!

You can see how the ground undulated across the yard and sloped steeply onto the back property line. It was so uneven that we couldn’t even set up a table for extra seating. We’d have to prop up the table legs with bricks in order to have a level top. Not a good thing….. Plus, the honeysuckle was taking over and encroaching upon the lawn. I rarely mowed back here, since the slope was so dangerous. As it was, the husband used to put on our son’s football cleats so he’d have some traction as he pushed the mower down into the slope. At least the grass was green!

Looking the opposite direction from the previous photo, we had an old brick patio that had heaved and was actually sliding down the hill. In this picture, I had already pulled up all of the bricks and had taken down one side of the retaining wall that was made up of old railroad ties. The privacy fence was torn down with the help of a nephew, who was also responsible for removing the decrepit old deck outside of the kitchen.

There was a small concrete slab patio outside the sunroom that sloped towards the house. What?! Because of this, the concrete and the brick along the house foundation were stained black and green with mold and moss. Eeewww….

But now, the yard has a wrap-around brick path across the width of the house, with a patio on either end. A lower level patio features a fire-pit and we have a nice seating area on the patio off of the kitchen. We even have a water feature- a long stream winding from the top level of the yard into the lower level patio, where it culminates into a pond-less waterfall.

These are views looking from one end of the yard to the other. The plantings have really grown since last fall. You can see my initial post on the yard transformation HERE.

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The crew began by creating the patio outside of the sunroom and carrying the path across the back of the house towards what used to be the old kitchen area deck.

Heavy chunks of stone, used to create the retaining walls, filled the side yard that was visible from the street. Neighbors wanted to know why the yard looked like a quarry! The stone slab that you see above was used as the bridge that crosses the u-shaped streambed.

The foreman and his right-hand man dug out the waterfall basin and installed the rock wall that borders the patio and holds the water basin into place. When stubborn roots couldn’t be budged with the claw and bucket, the guys resorted to using an axe. Look how deep the basin is, and it is not even dug all of the way out!

Here’s a zoomed view of the lower patio taken from the second floor balcony outside the master bedroom. Had we known just how much everyone would enjoy congregating around the fire pit, we would have made the patio area larger. There is still plenty of seating room, though- the ledge on the retaining wall is seat height and can accommodate quite a few people. As for me, I can usually be found sitting on the large stone anchoring the pit. I like the warmth of a roaring fire! See the rocks surrounding the waterfall area? Refer to the picture before this to see just how much of the boulders aren’t even visible in this photo!

The stream begins at the top patio level, meanders under a stone slab bridge, and ends in a waterfall into a pond-less rock basin

This 10-foot diameter patio at the north end of the yard is the perfect size for a table and four chairs. We ate dinner out here with friends on Friday night. From this location, we have a view to the opposite end of the yard, where the sunroom patio is.

You can see the dining table patio on the other end of the yard. It is bordered by a very small lawn area. We only wanted a small patch of lawn to break up the hardscape and the plantings. It’s so small that it takes only three minutes for me to mow. Now that’s tiny!

As you enter the backyard from the side garden path, this is what you see.

I created a comfy room setting under the deck outside of the sunroom.

We use the old washtub in the corner as our cooler when we have parties.

I wish that this colorful potted container still looked this good! After last week’s heat wave and the horrendous storm that came through- it looks a bit ragged and bloom-less. Maybe I can baby it back to health; if not, well, it’s still green!

This is the patio outside the kitchen. We just wanted some additional seating for this patio, so I stained four Adirondack chairs and plopped an umbrella between them for some shade. I bought the chairs last September at Home Depot for the clearance price of only $14. What a bargain! The potting bench was borrowed from the laundry room. It’s here mainly for looks, although I am keeping a few gardening tools inside its storage area.

And a look at the yard would not be complete without showing you some night views.

I love the play of the shadows on the fence. The underside of the bridge is lit and two large path lights highlight the beginning of the stream and the steps leading to the bridge.

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Water cascades into the pond-less basis and is lit by a sunken spotlight.

Two tall sycamore trees are both up-lighted and down-lighted. A small maple is also lit from its trunk base.

The path lights are lit with LED bulbs that cast a nice, bright light onto the pathway, the steps to the bridge, and the first water drop in the stream.

I hope that you enjoyed seeing our backyard. I’m far from being an accomplished gardener, so I’m learning as I go as I maintain it. It’s work, but we truly enjoy the fruits of our labor when we sit outside listening to the soothing sounds of the waterfall and having a nice cup of coffee or a glass of wine!

Wow! Sue, I love your yard/patio/entertainment area - beautiful ! Thanks so much for sharing it all with us. The heat and lack of rain has really taken a toll on all the flowers and plants here also. :( I keep watering, but the plants need a bit of rain. Sorry you are still dealing with the vertigo issues - not fun. :(Have a great week and stay cool!

Sue, this is just stunning. Every element was been well thought out and the results show it. I can believe the bigger magazines will be knocking at your door soon to do spreads on your vision. Thanks for sharing.

As a vertigo suffer myself I know exactly how you felt last week...I'm glad this week is better.

It looks great, Sue! But I knew that when you gave me the tour. : )I'm sure the video and pictures came out great. It's amazing what a difference it is from the before pictures and how much usable space you have. Love all the different areas and I'm sure the waterfall sounds wonderful. I used to love the one on our pond back in NY. Looking at your pictures makes me miss my yard.

Thank you for sharing your back yard project. You have made a usable oasis which you will enjoy for years to come. It's not easy deciding on how you want to do a project, but your ideas were wonderful and created many spaces for enjoyment. I especially loved the lighting at night. Enjoy your summer in your new space. Peggy from PA

It is just so fabulous Sue! Every time I see it my mouth still hangs open. How exciting about the photo shoot! I'm so glad they came before this hot weather. I hope you start feeling better really soon. Migraines are just the worst!

This is a piece of heaven on Earth. Sue everything is breathtaking. What an inspirational post! I would love it if you share this awesome post at our What's It Wednesday linky party. I hope you can join us!

Hi I am new here, thank you so much for sharing your garden with us. It is so lovely and i can't imagine the work put in with those big rocks and stones. I love sloping landscapes, for me the results are always dramatic and enchanting than a level ground. I even love your only green slope!

It's perfect! Lovely job. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Mod Vintage Life. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-4.html Wishing you a grand evening. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

Sue, you guys have really created a true oasis. It is absolutely gorgeous!! I love that you are able to use all the spaces now. It is perfect! I visited charleston yesterday and realized quickly that I don't miss that super hot muggy weather. I will be singing a different tune in February! So sorry to hear you not feeling well again. I hope it gets better soon and you guys have a wonderful 4th!!!

Wow! What a fabulous outdoor space! I love the separate areas that serve as outdoor rooms. I'd never need a vacation with a backyard like yours! I bet you love the sound of the circulating waterfall. Hubby and I want to build one one day. Sorry to hear that the vertigo hasn't done away yet. I had it on and off for several years after a fall. Did your doctor show you a maneuver that would pop the particles back into the ear canal?

Happy 4th! Hope you are feeling better soon. Too bad it's so hot. You could be taking your naps out in the yard!

Sue your back yard is just amazing! I love the water feature, your choice of stone and plantings ... EVERYTHING!!! It is a vision. Sorry about the storms, but thank God it was after the video. Hope it's not too bad.Big hugs,Patti

What a beautiful transformation, Sue. I like the different destination areas with the umbrella tables. Your gardens look lush and gorgeous too. Wonderful outdoor space that will provide many delightful hours for relaxing or entertaining. ~ Sarah

Wow Sue!!! What a beautiful transformation! I bet you're just loving it. Too bad it's to hot to step outdoors. It is just gorgeous - just like you see in the TV makeover shows. You must be estatic with it.Cindy

Oh my goodness Sue. I remember months ago, when you shared photos of the work going on. The result is amazing. Do you just sit out here all day basking in the glorious view? I would!! It's just stunning.

Hi Sue, I can remember when your yard was first done and thinking how beautiful it was, and today, it is even more beautiful, so you must be doing something right when it comes to maintaining it. Congrats on the magazine feature!

Now, do I need to come and nurse you back to good health? Sure hope you get this under control and get to feeling better soon.

Hello Susan, this is an amazing backyard transformation - it is now a dream Oasis! I love all the details! I sure hope you recover from Vertigo. I had a decent case of it years back and have moments now and then - not pleasant! Especially for one who loves to get on ladders!I will be sharing your wonderful post in my Home and Garden Post this evening, I appreciate you sharing,Kathy

I so wish I was there with you Ethel. I see that cute cart on the patio. It looks good there. Do you get a lot of birds enjoying your water? I am sure they are drawn to the sound of the water especially during the heat you are getting.

Hi Sue....your backyard is so pretty! It must be so nice to escape from the world back there! Sorry to hear about your vertigo. I remember when you fell a couple of years ago and you had that problem. I have been kind of out of it the past few months. Family visits and family chaos has been keeping me occupied. Not much energy for blogging that's for sure. Hope you are feeling better and staying cool.~Hugs, Patti

What a beautiful backyard. We have been trying to figure out what else to add to our back yard. We just recently were looking for pool companies in PA to help us with one part of the yard. We are also now looking for inspiration like yours for the other half of the yard. I really like your idea of all the stone with the plants. I think we may end up going for something like that. Thanks so much for sharing your pictures. It was such a beautiful yard.

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I'm an avid home stylist who admires all things beautiful, interesting, quirky, and fun. Because of that, I like to hunt for hidden treasures to use in my decorating. My collections keep growing, but I won't be ready for an intervention any time soon-